One Piece Chapter 323: The City of Water, Water Seven

The scene opens at the Shift Station. Kokoro, a large older woman wearing a conductor's hat, holds out a piece of paper and a bottle of alcohol. She smiles broadly, her cheeks flushed, as she says, 'TAKE THIS. IT'S A SIMPLE MAP OF THE ISLAND AND A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION.' She continues, 'LET THESE GUYS RESTORE YOUR SHIP TO TOP SHAPE. ALSO, WATER SEVEN IS BIG, SO BE CAREFUL NOT TO GET LOST.' A small text near her notes she is a 'GOOD PERSON!!' while a sound effect indicates she is slightly drunk. In the next panel, the Going Merry is seen sailing away from the station's wooden platform. From the ship, Nami calls back, 'WE PLAN ON GOING BACK TO WATER SEVEN SOON.' Sanji adds, 'IF WE MEET AGAIN, I'LL DEFINITELY TAKE YOU TO A NICE BAR FOR A FEW DRINKS.' Luffy cheerfully shouts, 'REALLY? I HOPE WE SEE YOU AGAIN!' A narration box at the bottom explains the crew's timeline: 'IT TAKES ABOUT 1 WEEK FOR THE LOG TO RECORD WATER SEVEN, SO YOU WILL HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO PLAY AROUND.'

On the deck of the Going Merry, the Straw Hat crew is in high spirits as they depart. Luffy sits atop the sheep figurehead, throwing his arms up in excitement and yelling, 'LET'S GO!! THANKS FOR THE INFO, KOKORO AND CHIMNIE!! GET READY TO SET SAIL, CREW!!' Behind him, Nami, Robin, Zoro, Chopper, Usopp, and Sanji are scattered around the deck, preparing for the journey. Chopper excitedly responds, 'OH!!' Back at the Shift Station, Kokoro stands with her hands on her hips, holding her bottle, and warns them, 'WATCH OUT FOR MARINES THERE!!' Beside her, her young granddaughter Chimney waves enthusiastically with both hands, shouting, 'TAKE CARE!!' Her pet rabbit-cat, Gonbe, sits between them and meows, 'NYA'. The final panel shows a wide view of the Shift Station, a small structure built on tracks over the ocean, growing smaller in the distance as the Going Merry sails away. A narration box reads: 'After visiting this strange train station of the sea...'

The Going Merry sails across the choppy ocean waves. A narration box states: 'Luffy and friends leave the Shift Station... to resume their search for a new shipmate.' From the ship, Luffy's voice rings out, 'YAHHHO!!! LET'S GO TO THE CITY OF MEAT!!!' Usopp's voice retorts, 'WERE YOU LISTENING AT ALL...?' On the deck, Luffy proudly holds up a crude, childish drawing of a stick figure with a wrench, labeled 'Mechanic' and '5 meters'. He declares, 'HE HAS TO BE AT LEAST 5 METERS TALL!!' Usopp, standing nearby, yells back, 'THAT'S TOO MUCH, LUFFY. HE WON'T FIT INTO OUR LITTLE SHIP. WE NEED A SUPER BIG MAN TO BE OUR SHIP MECHANIC.' Sanji sits casually on the railing, smoking a cigarette, and says, 'LUFFY, LEAVE THE CARPENTER SEARCH TO ME. I'LL DEFINITELY FIND US THE HOTTEST BABE AROUND.' Zoro, leaning against the mast with his arms crossed, bluntly calls Sanji 'STUPID!!' A narration box in the corner confirms their destination: 'Destination: The City of Water, Water Seven.'

Below deck, Nami and Chopper walk down the wooden stairs. Nami says, 'NONE OF THAT MATTERS, AS LONG AS HE OR SHE IS A GOOD CARPENTER.' Chopper, throwing his hooves up in excitement, cheers, 'IT'S SO EXCITING!! WE'RE GOING TO MEET NEW FRIENDS!!?' Nami smiles and replies, 'YUP. WE WERE LUCKY, TOO. WE GOT A MAP TO START US OFF.' In the background, Sanji and Zoro are visible on the upper deck. Sanji notes, 'THE MAIN CONCERN SHOULD BE WHETHER OR NOT ANYONE WILL WANT TO JOIN A GROUP OF PIRATES.' Nami unfolds the map Kokoro gave her. She explains, 'SHE SAID TO GO TO THE MARKED LOCATION TO FIND SOMEONE CALLED ICEBERG.' A close-up of the map shows a rough sketch of an island labeled 'WATER SEVEN' with an arrow pointing to a cloud-like shape marked 'HERE'. Nami's voice says, 'OH, I SEE.' Back on deck, Robin sits calmly, resting her chin on her hand, and comments on Luffy's drawing: 'IT'S A COMPLETELY USELESS SKETCH!!' Luffy points to his drawing and insists, 'LOOK HERE. LET'S FIND SOMEONE THAT LOOKS LIKE THIS!!' Usopp looks horrified and says, '... IF I SEE SOMEONE WHO LOOKS LIKE THAT, I'LL JUST TURN AROUND AND RUN.' Sanji agrees, 'I WOULD, TOO. I WOULD JUMP INTO THE SEA IF I HAVE TO. ALTHOUGH THIS GUY LOOKS LIKE HE'S PART OCTOPUS, SO HE WOULD PROBABLY STILL COME AFTER ME.' Usopp angrily yells at Sanji, 'HEY. YOU BETTER NOT BE TALKING ABOUT ME!'

Robin smiles gently as she tells the crew, 'OKAY. EVERYONE, GATHER UP!!' Nami's voice calls out, 'I'M GOING TO GIVE OUT THE SPENDING MONEY FOR THE WEEK.' The crew cheers in unison, 'YEY! HURRAY!!!' Suddenly, Luffy and Usopp look up as a seagull flies overhead, squawking 'KOO KOO'. Luffy asks, 'WHAT'S UP?' and Usopp simply says, 'USOPP.' The crew then gathers around the ship's main mast. Luffy touches the metal plating wrapped around it and says, 'THESE IRON PLATES ON THE MAST... ARE FILLED WITH THE MEMORIES OF OUR ADVENTURES...' Usopp, looking sentimental, adds, 'TO THINK THAT THEY WILL SOON BE REMOVED FOR REPAIR...' Sanji, standing nearby, remarks, 'I GET A REALLY WEIRD NOSTALGIC FEELING...' Usopp continues, 'I CAN RELATE. ESPECIALLY AFTER WE ENTERED GRAND LINE... GOING MERRY SUFFERED A LOT OF DAMAGE. THERE ARE LEAKS EVERYWHERE DOWN BELOW...' Usopp then turns to Luffy and Zoro, stating, 'IT'S DANGEROUS IF WE LEAVE THE SHIP UNREPARED. LET'S MAKE SURE THE SHIP IS COMPLETELY FIXED!!' Luffy grins widely and suggests, 'YEAH! WE HAVE LOTS OF MONEY NOW, SO... WE CAN PROBABLY UPGRADE TOO!!' Usopp excitedly yells, 'COOL! I WANT CANNONS!!' Zoro, looking serious, demands, 'I WANT A BRONZE STATUE!!'

A wide shot reveals the vast ocean with a massive, towering structure appearing on the horizon. Voices from the ship ring out: 'HEY. IS THAT WATER SEVEN?' 'LAND HO~~' 'LAND HOOO~~!!!' 'EVERYONE START ROWING!!' 'NO. THAT'S A WASTE OF ENERGY...' The crew reacts to the breathtaking sight of the city. Robin looks on with a calm smile, murmuring, 'FASCI-NATING...' Luffy stares with wide eyes and a drop of sweat on his face, simply saying, 'WOW'. Usopp's jaw drops completely open in silent shock. Sanji smiles around his cigarette, chuckling, 'HOHO...' Nami looks delighted and says, 'PRETTY.' Chopper's eyes bug out and his jaw drops as he screams, 'WOOOW!!' Zoro smirks slightly, speechless at the view.

A spectacular double-page spread showcases the magnificent City of Water, Water Seven. The city is built entirely on the ocean, rising in massive, tiered circular levels towards a colossal fountain at the very top, which shoots a massive geyser of water high into the sky. Water cascades down from the upper levels through aqueducts and canals, pouring into the sea below. The architecture is grand and intricate, with countless buildings, docks, and shipyards lining the lower levels. Large numbers '1', '2', and '3' are painted on the massive dock entrances. In the center, a grand building with arched entryways bears a sign reading 'BLUE STATION'. The Going Merry sails towards the city, looking tiny in comparison to the sprawling metropolis. A narration box formally introduces the location: 'Grand Line "Water Seven"'. In the bottom left corner, Luffy's face is shown beaming with excitement as he yells, 'A GIANT FOUNTAIN!!! THAT'S SO COOL!!' Another voice from off-panel screams, 'WOWWWW!!'

The crew continues to marvel at the city as they approach. Nami looks on in awe, while Luffy sits on the figurehead. Usopp yells, 'MAN! THAT LOOKS LIKE A METROPOLIS!!!' Luffy adds, 'NO WONDER THE SEA TRAIN GOES HERE...' Nami points towards the large central building and says, 'LOOK. IT SAYS "BLUE STATION" OVER THERE. SO WHERE IS THE DOCK? MAYBE IT'S ON THE OTHER SIDE.' The Going Merry sails closer to the city's edge. A man in a small boat wearing a cap and overalls points at them and shouts, 'HEY! YOU THERE! PIRATES CAN'T GO IN FROM THE FRONT LIKE THAT. GO FROM THE BACK!!' Luffy, looking down from the ship, replies, 'YAH?' Nami quickly agrees, 'OK!!' Luffy waves and shouts back, 'THANK YOU!!'

The Going Merry navigates through the city's intricate waterways. The buildings are constructed directly into the water, with canals serving as streets. Voices from the crew express their amazement: 'WOW! WATER SEVEN IS SO COOL!!' 'THIS CITY IS THE BEST!!' 'EVERYTHING'S FLOATING ON WATER...!! EVEN THE HOUSES...' Robin, Chopper, Sanji, and Luffy observe the architecture. Robin corrects them, 'THAT'S NOT IT. THIS CITY IS JUST BUILT ON A SUNKEN ISLAND. LOOK CLOSELY AT THE BASE OF THE BUILDINGS.' Chopper looks confused, uttering a question mark. Sanji notices the structures and says, 'WOW! PILLARS!!' Luffy, laughing with his mouth wide open, realizes, 'I SEE... THAT'S WHY IT'S THE CITY OF WATER... YEAH! LET'S GO FIND SHIP MECHANICS!!'

A muscular man on the shore yells out to the approaching pirate ship, 'HEY! YOU CAN'T ANCHOR YOUR SHIP THERE!! WHAT ARE YOU HERE FOR? ROBBERY?' Nami's voice calls back from the ship, 'NO. WE JUST WANT TO FIX OUR SHIP.' The man points and instructs, 'HEAD THAT WAY UNTIL YOU SEE A SMALL PENINSULA. YOU CAN ANCHOR THERE.' Nami replies, 'OK. THANK YOU.' Usopp mutters nervously, 'DID HE JUST ASK IF WE WANT TO ROB HIM...?' The Going Merry follows the directions, sailing towards a rocky peninsula with a large wooden crane structure. Nami says, 'OK. PULL UP THE SAIL! I THINK THIS IS IT...' On the deck, Zoro angrily yells at Usopp, 'HEY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING, STUPID!!' Usopp, holding a broken piece of rigging, stammers, 'UH... I JUST TUGGED ON IT A LITTLE BIT...' Zoro sighs, 'THAT'S SURP-RISING... I DIDN'T THINK "GOING MERRY" IS IN SUCH A BAD SHAPE...' Nami looks around the city and wonders, 'WHY AREN'T THE PEOPLE HERE AFRAID OF THE PIRATES?' Sanji explains, 'THAT'S PROBABLY BECAUSE PIRATES ONLY COME HERE FOR REPAIRS. MAYBE THEY HAVE VERY STRONG GUYS TO FIGHT ANY PIRATES IF NECESSARY...' Robin agrees, 'NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT. THERE MUST BE STRONG GUYS EVERYWHERE IN A BIG CITY LIKE THIS.'

Usopp looks terrified at the thought of strong fighters, his eyes bugging out as he yells, 'FOR REAL!!? THEN ISN'T IT DANGEROUS HERE!?' Sanji calmly reassures him, 'IT SHOULD BE FINE SINCE WE'RE ALL CUSTOMERS.' Usopp stammers, 'R... REALLY?' Nami, ready to go, says, 'OKAY! LET'S GO!!' and leaps off the side of the ship. She calls back, 'HOLD ON! LUFFY! USOPP!! YOU'RE GOING TO FOLLOW ME!' Usopp asks, 'WHERE TO?' Nami explains her plan: 'FIRST WE'LL TAKE KOKORO'S LETTER... AND FIND THE MAN NAMED ICEBERG. WE'LL ASK HIM TO FIX OUR SHIP. WE ALSO NEED TO FIND A PLACE TO EXCHANGE OUR GOLD FOR MONEY.' Luffy agrees, 'OK!' The three of them—Nami, Luffy, and Usopp—stand confidently on the dock. Nami declares, 'ALRIGHT! ENOUGH TALKING!' Luffy throws his fist in the air and shouts, 'LET'S GO TO WATER SEVEN!'

In the city, citizens riding in small boats through the canals hear a commotion. One yells, 'HEY!! THERE'S PIRATE TROUBLE AT DOCK 1!!' Another responds, 'REALLY? LET'S GO SEE!!' The scene shifts to Dock 1, a massive, bustling shipyard filled with workers, lumber, and half-built ships. A sign reads 'Water Seven Shipyard Dock 1.' A large, imposing pirate captain with long blonde hair and a crescent moon-shaped helmet stands aggressively. A caption identifies him: 'Captain of the Big-Helmet Pirates, Mikaziki. Bounty (beri): 36,000,000'. Mikaziki glares and announces, 'AFTER MUCH, CAREFUL CONSIDERATION, I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE REPAIRS ON MY SHIP. HOWEVER, THE PRICE IS WAY TOO HIGH FOR WHAT YOU DID.'

Mikaziki throws his head back and laughs arrogantly, 'DON'T DISTURB ME, I'M WORKING. THEREFORE, I WON'T PAY EVEN ONE BERI FOR IT!! HAHAHAHA!' Behind him, his crew draws their swords, cheering, 'YEAH!! HAHAH! THANKS FOR REPAIRING OUR SHIP!!' In the foreground, a blonde shipwright wearing goggles, Paulie, ignores them completely, focused on sawing a piece of wood. Nearby, Iceburg, a man with blue hair and a striped shirt, holds a small white mouse named Tyrannosaurus in his pocket. He asks his blonde secretary, Kalifa, 'KARIFA, WHAT'S GOING ON OVER THERE?' Kalifa pushes up her glasses and replies, 'UM... A CLIENT IS REFUSING TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR.' A worker nearby warns, 'LOOKS LIKE TROUBLE, ICEBERG.' Iceburg sighs, 'SOUNDS TROUBLESOME INDEED,' while his mouse squeaks, 'CHYUU CHYUU'. Three other shipwright foremen step forward. Rob Lucci, wearing a top hat with a pigeon perched on his shoulder, says ominously, 'YOU KNOW... YOU SHOULDN'T PICK ON THE HARD WORKING FOLKS. WE WON'T TAKE IT SILENTLY.' Beside him stand Peepley Lulu, a man with a bandana, and Tilestone, a massive, muscular man.

Without warning, Paulie launches a devastating flying kick directly into Mikaziki's face. The impact is brutal, sending shockwaves through the air and knocking the pirate captain's eyes wide open in shock. Mikaziki's crew watches in horror, screaming, 'B... BOSS!!!' Paulie lands gracefully, holding a thick rope in his hands. He casually apologizes, 'AH... MY BAD. LOOK WHERE YOU MOVE THAT THING, IDIOT!!' In a swift motion, Paulie whips the rope around, ensnaring Mikaziki's neck, and violently slams the massive pirate captain face-first into the wooden dock, shattering the planks beneath him.

Enraged by the attack on their captain, the Big-Helmet Pirates charge forward with their swords raised, screaming, 'Y... YOU'RE TRICKING US INTO A FIGHT, AREN'T YOU!!? WE WILL KILL YOU!' 'YEAH!!' Paulie calmly replies, 'AH. EXCUSE ME.' The Galley-La foremen spring into action. Rob Lucci delivers a swift, powerful kick to a pirate's stomach, making him cough up blood. Peepley Lulu draws two swords and effortlessly slashes through several pirates. Meanwhile, the giant foreman Tilestone hefts a massive, handheld cannon onto his shoulder. He asks a nearby worker, 'HEY. HAVE WE TESTED... THAT CANNON YET?' The worker replies, 'NOT YET.' A terrified pirate screams at them, 'FOOLISH CARPEN-TERS! YOU'RE ALL GOING TO DIE!!' Ignoring the threat, Tilestone fires the untested cannon. A colossal explosion erupts, completely obliterating the charging pirates and sending a massive shockwave across the dock.

The dust settles to reveal the five Galley-La foremen standing victorious over the unconscious bodies of the Big-Helmet Pirates. From left to right, the foremen are Kaku, Paulie, Peepley Lulu, Rob Lucci, and Tilestone. They look completely unfazed by the brief battle. A caption box formally introduces the organization: 'Water Seven (Carpentry Partner of the World Government); Shipyard "The Gareera Company" (Gorilla Company)'. Rob Lucci, holding a saw over his shoulder, states coldly, 'YOU'RE IN THE CARPENTERS' TERRITORY.' Paulie, lighting a cigar, adds, 'THE PIRATE'S WAY OF THINGS DOESN'T WORK HERE.' The defeated pirates lie in a heap at their feet, proving the immense strength of the Water Seven shipwrights.

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